Sir Dave Brailsford has six months to find a backer but cycling’s top team need big bucks and China may be the answer
As Team Sky’s sponsorship enters its final season after nine years at the peak of professional cycling one thing is certain: unless Sir Dave Brailsford announces a replacement backer this side of June, the vultures will circle ever closer to the ground. They will already be on the wing after the announcement on Wednesday that Sky will end its backing at the close of 2019.
There is speculation that because some of their most valuable riders have contracts that last beyond the end of next year, backing may already be in place. It is equally likely that the contracts are long term, as the management had no option but to think that way and possibly little inkling the team may shut up shop, and that possible penalties for early termination of those contracts may be tied to the current sponsorship.
Written by William Fotheringham
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/12/team-sky-vultures-top-riders-dave-brailsford-cyling under the title “What now for Team Sky? Vultures will already be circling their top riders”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
